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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Marcelo and the Real World - Francisco X. Stork

Synopsis: Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear--part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify--and he's always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm's mailroom in order to experience "the real world."There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm. He learns about competition and jealousy, anger and desire. But it's a picture he finds in a file -- a picture of a girl with half a face -- that truly connects him with the real world: its suffering, its injustice, and what he can do to fight.

I wish I could be friends with Marcelo. I loved seeing society through Marcelo's eyes, because when he struggles to figure out things that come naturally to others it makes them seem almost absurd. One view of the world, even if it is common comes to seem crazy.

But at the same time, there's this live and let live attitude that comes along with this book. It doesn't necessarily point out glaring errors in mankind and social norms. It is an observation more than a judgement, and the perspective is unique.

I love being able to get into the head of someone who doesn't think like I do, and I loved the way Marcelo's brain worked. It's so logical and often beautiful, the way he processes information. Marcelo hears music that seems to come within him, which is such a gorgeous concept. I think that's where I was a little disappointed. I wanted more about this music he could hear, what it felt like to him, how it affected him, what it meant. It didn't occur enough and it was only mentioned a few times.

As Marcelo learns about corruption in the world, he remains good despite pressure. And Jasmine is such a wonderful character to balance Marcelo. She's enough to convince any reader that a person can be flawed, but still have a gentle spirit and a good heart.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Marcelo and the Real World - Francisco X. Stork

Synopsis: Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear--part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify--and he's always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm's mailroom in order to experience "the real world."There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm. He learns about competition and jealousy, anger and desire. But it's a picture he finds in a file -- a picture of a girl with half a face -- that truly connects him with the real world: its suffering, its injustice, and what he can do to fight.

I wish I could be friends with Marcelo. I loved seeing society through Marcelo's eyes, because when he struggles to figure out things that come naturally to others it makes them seem almost absurd. One view of the world, even if it is common comes to seem crazy.

But at the same time, there's this live and let live attitude that comes along with this book. It doesn't necessarily point out glaring errors in mankind and social norms. It is an observation more than a judgement, and the perspective is unique.

I love being able to get into the head of someone who doesn't think like I do, and I loved the way Marcelo's brain worked. It's so logical and often beautiful, the way he processes information. Marcelo hears music that seems to come within him, which is such a gorgeous concept. I think that's where I was a little disappointed. I wanted more about this music he could hear, what it felt like to him, how it affected him, what it meant. It didn't occur enough and it was only mentioned a few times.

As Marcelo learns about corruption in the world, he remains good despite pressure. And Jasmine is such a wonderful character to balance Marcelo. She's enough to convince any reader that a person can be flawed, but still have a gentle spirit and a good heart.